[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6335987,"mediaKeyId","2288092-29a33bd774b2ec309004efc24944fb60","parentId",2288092,"title","Votes at a glance: key Senate roll calls and final actions from Tuesday","audioSeconds",2215,"startMs",2410000,"endMs",4625000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2288092-29a33bd774b2ec309004efc24944fb60&start=2410&end=4625","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2288092-29a33bd774b2ec309004efc24944fb60/thumbnail_2410000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6335987/North-Dakota/Votes-at-a-glance-key-Senate-roll-calls-and-final-actions-from-Tuesday","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6335987-9f6240bc12377c1a5ba2f8f39a80e2ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1775221816&Signature=GcXctNUTN97SgxnApFLU~Pq6z8qZlZipdngeEIDDFmyzQIfUjuKZB15BVT5vEg3cIBJoatlaB1MBNV1BTCXanLXZUzpahUl0nfzwJv4Y4i5HxUBt99Vc6ifpno7P~TxPc6xueannl7rBGucxMPk1y3kKO0ectv1bDdGEY7k5LpNMild8m2YphHp0~7p24zSb0b-o3f8ccI7A0w5Fe-CbqTDLSHCqPNwEFOSVthTq-4pLj4Gb7Mu3VjhbtPFAMLbo2VDpsgoccqjvG9HiRF4Vpo6ATJ1VnxuIMfQhH6XWNMEMKh87q6GhbsPUqqD~db9TQUe8zFNLeo21JugNWvocNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-12T00:00:00Z","article","The North Dakota Senate completed votes on a range of bills and resolutions during Tuesday’s floor session. The most consequential final tallies included increases to driver’s license fees, changes to land-leases authority, hunting-tag flexibility for youth, and multiple defeated property-tax proposals. Below are key final results recorded on the floor:

- Senate Bill 23-81 (driver’s license fee increases): Passed, final tally 40 ayes, 7 nays.

- Senate Bill 23-02 (board of university and school lands authority, adding rare-earth/critical mineral leasing authority): Passed, final tally 45 ayes, 2 nays.

- Senate Bill 23-09 (youth deer hunting permits, allow inclusion of mule deer where authorized): Passed, final tally 47 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 20-71 (Board of Counselor Examiners fee changes, duplicate license/technology fee): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay.

- Senate Bill 23-31 (Theodore Roosevelt National Park working group): Failed, final tally 14 ayes, 33 nays (covered in separate story).

- Senate Bill 22-98 (property tax/homestead and related changes): Failed, final tally 8 ayes, 39 nays.

- Senate Bill 23-01 (homestead tax credit change): Failed, final tally 6 ayes, 41 nays.

- Senate Bill 22-79 (state aid/school mills adjustment): Failed, final tally 6 ayes, 41 nays.

- Senate Bill 23-00 (mandatory secure storage of students’ personal electronic devices — note: bill number shown in the record as 2,300): Failed, final tally 2 ayes, 45 nays.

- Senate Bill 22-66 (appropriation to the private investigators and security board): Failed, final tally 7 ayes, 40 nays.

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 4,006 (urge Congress to establish federal protections for the wild horse herd at Theodore Roosevelt National Park): Passed (floor vote recorded as passage).

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 4,021 (urging the federal government to end the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program): Passed (floor vote recorded as passage).

Several committee amendments and proposed amendments were also adopted earlier in the session and re-referred to appropriations where indicated (for example, property-tax relief and school-related amendments). Where only tallies were recorded on the floor, this roundup lists the official totals as announced by the secretary at the time of adjournment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","69th Legislative Assembly - Senate Wed, Feb 12, 2025 1:00 PM-2:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","A roundup of final votes and outcomes for bills and resolutions considered on the Senate floor, including which measures passed and which failed.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28311,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6335993,"Senate committee amendment raises income thresholds in education savings account bill; sponsor and colleagues debate fiscal estimate",179,1101000,1280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2288092-29a33bd774b2ec309004efc24944fb60&start=1101&end=1280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2288092-29a33bd774b2ec309004efc24944fb60/thumbnail_1101000.jpg","/articles/6335993/North-Dakota/Senate-committee-amendment-raises-income-thresholds-in-education-savings-account-bill-sponsor-and-colleagues-debate-fiscal-estimate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6335993-8ae4b7e15332e9ddea248b035952d006/orig.mp4?Expires=1775221816&Signature=iDp3vaAsjqd-CCWKkalTIWCqxxKSs7lAKLaeZzvYpiXvR2zjfOiIQERYB3EgjhrvXzLXSl476Pj0u3oUfk-7gt4RqWTphYloikXH1W7f9fHSmfUKeERtcdDzqIrVJCsN6Oz2CHM7X7AVowhC0tikjDQglAFQ2ipLDT~YVE7nGhvLqG0nm1gbu3N0Kcw1rET0J446m-DMMGcMtSlDzZ-Wo3jX89ykhfs3t0F9jyA3b6ZA6CMeQ2wQFiNdp-l6Nhh2EXSdwvJihxHf4m8gQizkoTrz3izvWcD00QfRMvGainFNeBYz5USDBw-B5Iu~MWEPp5FsMz7U-~dUhatNU1dErw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate approved a committee amendment to Senate Bill 2,400 that raises household income thresholds used to determine eligibility for proposed educational savings accounts.

Senator Axman, the bill carrier, told the chamber the committee amended percentage thresholds on page 4 to increase eligibility markers from roughly 200% of federal poverty guidelines to both 300% and 500% thresholds for different tiers. The committee voted to recommend the amendment and asked the Senate to concur.

Senator Wambam said he prepared a fiscal note-like estimate for colleagues in the absence of an official fiscal note. Using an assumed 20,000 students and the same methodology cited in a related bill, Wambam said the total estimated cost would be about $270,000,000 and that approximately 14.6% of that would be designated for nonpublic schools, with the remainder flowing back to public schools.

“Just in the interest of transparency and making sure everybody’s aware of what's going on, this total fiscal note comes to a number of $270,000,000 of which only 14.6 of it is actually designated for non public schools,” Wambam said on the floor.

Senator Axman clarified that changes under the amendment would take effect in the second year of the biennium, and that the fiscal estimate would be slightly adjusted to reflect the amendment’s changed eligibility counts.

The amendment was adopted on voice vote; the bill remains subject to further consideration on the calendar.","Senators approved an amendment to the educational savings account bill to raise qualifying income thresholds and heard floor discussion of a fiscal estimate that would put the program’s cost near $270 million.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6335997,"Senate defeats proposal to shift session schedule but approves study amendment to explore periodic reconvening",748,2520000,3268000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2288092-29a33bd774b2ec309004efc24944fb60&start=2520&end=3268","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2288092-29a33bd774b2ec309004efc24944fb60/thumbnail_2520000.jpg","/articles/6335997/North-Dakota/Senate-defeats-proposal-to-shift-session-schedule-but-approves-study-amendment-to-explore-periodic-reconvening","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6335997-762469ba68a6013ddc351c82fa55a326/orig.mp4?Expires=1775221816&Signature=G4HjNQPsngf09JpWpt~DnUyu3WQJCklZr-l2ZKBNWb3JJ0FL4vlPczSnbdZPtwvifCsk4aazM5MYf-~HZxF4w0-wUwdQIaBCN3SbxajEkM-bzz95hfDM2zkTYeT-v6sMpAy6PLQ0ym3NRXGWAiYx7HC1KYlF-~LK-0HzLlHwMHQQEJTyoFkSOHXFMvJ6ELF38QEmYF8C27PP0GkQKgDeimfRtqelmTYq6tn7gwXEFJzT5EySxYgEr08JflLPn1d7j4OirPNGm5yq3bsQx-sjPYneE8RrBmBkFsAv~Xyon1oqAIZEt-AMznnBM7IRPbTe9wRjtOyaMgdA5IvProXreQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators considered a proposal to change the legislative calendar to a periodic reconvening model — short three-day monthly sessions for most of the year — but the full measure failed final passage Tuesday after lengthy debate.

Senate Bill 23-19 sought to replace the traditional multiweek session with a schedule modeled on the National Guard: three consecutive natural days each month (Friday–Sunday) except December, plus up to seven additional days annually. The Finance and Taxation and State and Local Government committees reviewed the measure; the carrier reported a committee recommendation of do not pass (6-0).

Senator Castaneda, the bill carrier in committee, summarized the proposal and the committee’s decision. Opponents raised logistical and cost concerns, including increased driving and higher per-night hotel rates, additional per diem implications and uncertainty about effective dates for bills and appropriations.

Senator Macrom moved a floor amendment to convert the bill into a mandated interim study conducted by legislative management. That amendment — which would have legislative management study periodic reconvening and potentially recommend alternate proposals during the 2025–26 interim — passed on a verification vote of 25-22.

“Maybe we'll come out with something totally different. But it does give us a vehicle to get together and talk about other ways to conduct the sessions going forward,” Senator Grama said during floor debate in support of the study amendment.

Despite the amendment surviving, the bill’s final passage failed after a roll call: the secretary reported a final tally of 21 ayes and 26 nays. Supporters said the model could broaden participation and reduce the burden of long continuous sessions; opponents said it would complicate scheduling, increase travel, and likely not yield the anticipated savings.

The amendment sends the issue to interim study, but the legislature will not adopt the scheduling change this session.","Senators debated a plan to reconvene the legislature periodically (a National Guard-style model). An amendment to study the idea passed but the underlying bill failed on final passage.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6336002,"Senate rejects state working group for Theodore Roosevelt National Park horses; lawmakers pass separate resolution urging federal protections",406,1870000,2276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2288092-29a33bd774b2ec309004efc24944fb60&start=1870&end=2276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2288092-29a33bd774b2ec309004efc24944fb60/thumbnail_1870000.jpg","/articles/6336002/North-Dakota/Senate-rejects-state-working-group-for-Theodore-Roosevelt-National-Park-horses-lawmakers-pass-separate-resolution-urging-federal-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6336002-9ce7b9a6eba5abb1ac3c7214a62ce875/orig.mp4?Expires=1775221816&Signature=kumPpKmOfJzwSo7VH4mtKgq6mJ89Annr035iyKCbLOdP9vpaHpTBazK40hxcRTV6F5moEDG7idyEpACD5K5~o5-zlhgw69HrlTN7k8P03X0RxZ48o6QZRqXEc1qOZ4Kzh~Dsyt4eYXAT-Cdx9hVdewSJwfTRbKif20t~6lndfngp3Tb-PbccuBNHy8RaXID45c-pr6t7of1X2szOr4aYP1bKx~-f6BbqAzuzEwmwz0v7YN345F272h0fdQ9tj20bWvGsatNZlEkkwwX1MZK9NHa1B-EEf2dFhh-U7i9IGhlaaH7l5wIyfI7hrxVqnARVFe3JENbBqAeZmeA2co5Onw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A proposal to create a state working group to advise Theodore Roosevelt National Park on management of its wild horse herd failed in the North Dakota Senate on a 14-33 vote Tuesday.

The measure, Senate Bill 23-31, would have established a working group of North Dakota stakeholders to provide advice to the park superintendent and requested an appropriation of $49,500. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee recommended a do-not-pass on a 4-2 vote, calling the herd management a federal responsibility because the animals live on land managed by the National Park Service.

“Given the some of the concerns with how the breeding was gonna be handled and how this herd would be able to continue on was a good part of the discussion,” said Senator Bridal, the bill carrier, describing the public interest and the committee’s deliberations. Bridal noted substantial public outreach and an appropriation request tied to the working group.

Senator Baucher, speaking in favor on the floor, said the herd is a “living connection to the past” and argued local expertise could fill gaps caused by limited park staffing. “The park also lacks dedicated staff with equine knowledge. This advisory committee would allow us to put the knowledge that we have within our state to help support the park,” Baucher said.

Opponents emphasized that the park is federally managed and that a state advisory group could not compel federal action. “We could create this work group, and we could meet, and we could create all the recommendations in the world, but we cannot force them to sit down with us,” Senator Rohrs said, urging colleagues to vote no.

After the roll call, the secretary reported a final tally of 14 ayes and 33 nays and declared the bill lost.

Separately, the Senate approved a concurrent resolution urging Congress to establish federal protections for the same herd. Senate Concurrent Resolution 4,006 passed on the floor after committee consideration; the bill carrier described it as a nonbinding appeal to the state’s congressional delegation and to federal agencies to consider statutory protections and improved management practices for the herd.

The debate reflected a split among senators over whether state involvement could be helpful in practice or whether it risked duplicating or conflicting with federal authority. The Senate action leaves federal policy and park management unchanged but records formal legislative concern and a recommendation to Congress.","Senators defeated a bill to create a state working group to advise management of the wild horse herd at Theodore Roosevelt National Park but later approved a concurrent resolution urging Congress to establish federal protections for the herd.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: key Senate roll calls and final actions from Tuesday

Senate committee amendment raises income thresholds in education savings account bill; sponsor and colleagues debate fiscal estimate

Senate defeats proposal to shift session schedule but approves study amendment to explore periodic reconvening

Senate rejects state working group for Theodore Roosevelt National Park horses; lawmakers pass separate resolution urging federal protections